Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, who recently earned a business management degree, was crowned during the event at The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The runner-up was Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez, while the second runner-up was Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett.

Australia was represented by Adelaide's Olivia Rodgers, but the 25-year-old speech pathologist failed to make it to the top 16.

Ninety-two women from around the world participated in the decades-old competition. This year's edition had the most contestants ever, including the first ever representatives of Cambodia, Laos, and Nepal.

Miss South Africa was crowned by last year's winner, Miss Philippines; Image: Getty

The 22-year-old Nel-Peters has earned a yearlong salary, a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign, and more prizes.

In addition to her business management ambitions, Nel-Peters is a self-defense trainer -- a skill she developed after being hijacked and held at gunpoint.

Steve Harvey returned as the Miss Universe host despite botching the 2015 Miss Universe crowning when he announced the wrong winner. On Sunday, he poked fun at his mistake throughout the night and told the audience he is "grateful for the Oscars", referring to the best-picture flub at this year's Academy Awards.

Miss South Africa; Image: Getty

Grammy-Award winner Fergie performed her new song 'A Little Work' while the contestants walked down the stage wearing evening gowns. This year's judges included YouTube star Lele Pons, former judge of America's Next Top Model Jay Manuel and Wendy Fitzwilliam, the 1998 Miss Universe winner from Trinidad and Tobago.

President Donald Trump offended Hispanics when he made anti-immigrant remarks in announcing his bid for the White House in 2015. At the time, he co-owned The Miss Universe Organization with NBCUniversal, but the network and the Spanish-language broadcaster Univision quickly cut ties with him, refusing to air the show. Trump sued both networks, eventually settling and selling off the entire pageant to talent management company WME/IMG.

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